October 9, 2009

Captain Andy Matroci and the crew of the JB Magruder reported finding a dagger on the debris trail of the Atocha, south of the Emerald City site. This encrusted knife is about 18 inches long and has an ornate hand guard.

In 1535 a knife was designed for holding in the left hand during combat, while a rapier was carried in the right. This combination of blades determined the dagger would be handy for parry. The blades were usually double-edged and the points reinforced; the length, 14 to18 inches. These daggers were called poignards or left-hand daggers. The French called them main-gauche, which means “left hand” in French.

Some left-hand daggers were double-edged knives with spring-loaded sub-blades that jutted out on each side of the blade. This dagger could parry and catch a rapier and with a twisting movement, gained an advantage in combat.

The left hand dagger was a weapon used almost exclusively in conjunction with the rapier and was distinguished by its long quillons (cross guards), which often curved forward toward the blade. While it was mostly used in defense, it also had the added advantage of being an offensive weapon when the combatants closed in to a point where the longer reach of the sword was no longer effective.

This knife was used for fighting, and little else.

After conservation in our laboratory, we will know much more about this unique artifact. Stay tuned.

Looks like Fishers have dug up another great find.. See Kim’s comments below:

Kim Fisher saw the ring today and gave this description:
“It is a plain gold band with a large box-shaped gold setting on the top with an amethyst inside. The amethyst is so dark it is almost black. It probably would have come from a large crystal in order to be that dark. We have found several other rings with similar characteristics without stones in them, or with emeralds, but this is the first ring with an amethyst found on the Atocha site.”

This week Captain Andy will be back near the spot where the gold ring was found, on the 165 degree line about 200 yards south of the Mother Lode.